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Vineyard Haven

I drove to my bank and looked through the window and saw a customer service representative at the desk with a baseball cap on. “Huh,” I thought, “it isn’t even dress-down Friday.” I entered Martha’s Vineyard Co-operative bank and, guess what? Every employee was dressed in Red Sox regalia.

“Is it Halloween?” I asked. “Or am I in the Red Sox dugout?” Turns out, for solidarity, all bank employees dressed for the Sox on Wednesday.

I didn’t have a chance to mention to you how much I appreciate the Rev. Michael Nagle’s annual blessing for the animals on Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, lover of all animals. I’m not quite sure if Father shares that love, but he shows up dependably every year. This year the blessing was at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Oak Bluffs. We had 15 dogs, five cats, one hermit crab, and one gekko.A lovely parishioner brought handmade dog biscuits. Her own dog promptly ate two-thirds of them. Same time, next year. I hope to see more of you there.

Dominique and Margaret Penicaud are the proud grandparents of their fourth grandchild, Owen Penicaud. Owen was born on Oct. 20 at 12:45 a.m. He weighed in at 7 pounds. His Mom and Dad, Adriana and John-Eric of Charlestown, are doing great. Aside from her devotion to family, Margaret is so actively involved in the Haitian fish farm project. She is leaving with a group on Nov. 5 to deliver medical, school, and sewing supplies.

Margaret will be conducting a quilt workshop for teachers and students for PeaceQuilts. The day after Thanksgiving, we will be opening our 10th annual PeaceCraft sale for the holidays, beautiful crafts from self-help projects from the poorest areas of our world. The sale will be held this year at the Tisbury Market and Deli, formerly 90 Main Street, Vineyard Haven. If volunteers are interested in working shifts, please call Meg at 508-939-9094. I’ll see you there.

Our library welcomes teen volunteers tomorrow from 3 to 4 p.m. Sign up at the front desk or call Mary at 508-696-4211. Meanwhile, the Vineyard Haven library evening lecture series has had such a positive response to the planned lecture by Kitty Dukakis that the venue has been changed. The talk will go on at the Hebrew Center on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. This former first lady of Massachusetts will speak on Shock of Recognition: Depression, Addiction, and Hope.Kitty went public with her story of personal addiction in 1990, as well as with her experience with depression. Join us for an evening of one of the most powerful speakers on these problems.

Regular library programs continue. Storytime on Tuesdays for infants to 2-year-olds is held at 10 a.m. Toddlers follow at 11 a.m. Chess club is held on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. for ages 6 through high school. Beginners are welcome. Ages 6 through 10 enjoy story time at 3:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Oh, to be a kid again.

I am so in awe of Betty Burton. Not only is she devoted to her family, but she does a great job at our library, and presents many of the programs I frequently mention. When I told her my son in Iraq craves beef jerky, she e-mailed me that she bought him a cache off-Island. What a delight to know her.

The report from Iraq is that my son began college courses on line last Monday. He wants me to find his game cube in his room, which is akin to finding a needle in a haystack. I did send him some Halloween candy. Meanwhile, his wife, Lilly, has returned to her parents’ home in Rockford, Ill., with their two sons, Corbyn and Dominic. Lilly has joined a roller derby team and is having a great time. Her new job begins on Monday. Chris Clark sends thanks to everyone who is writing him and keeping him in their prayers and especially to all those who are sending him foot powder and beef jerky.

Our League of Women Voters is asking if any of you are frustrated writers. Here is your chance: send a paragraph or two that you think would be of interest to our Martha’s Vineyard League of Women Voters members. E-mail your submission to carjim@vineyard.net. The deadline is Nov. 10.

Our sincere condolences go out to cousin Silvio Spiconardi on the death of his brother, Tommy. Tommy was a great son, brother, father, cousin, cop, and will be missed by all who knew him